About Us

NFBNY is an organization of blind and low vision New Yorkers who believe that, with the appropriate training, attitude, and opportunities, blind people can live the lives we want. NFBNY brings blind people together to empower and learn from one another and to celebrate our achievements as we work together to improve the lives of the blind of New York. For more information about the National Federation of the Blind of New York, visit our website at nfbny.org, or call us at 844-NFB-of-NY (844-632-6369).

Code of Conduct

Please note, the NFB’s Code of Conduct will be in effect during this event. Have questions? Contact any member of the affiliate board.

We would like to thank all of our 2025 sponsors.

This year's State Convention will be held at:

Hotel Shuttle

The Hilton Garden Inn Troy does not offer a shuttle service, complimentary or otherwise. Please plan to utilize either ride-share or other taxi services for trips to and from the airport, bus, and train stations.

Registration Envelope Pickup

Registration envelopes will be available for pickup from 4 PM to 8 PM on Thursday evening in the hotel lobby, near the check-in desk. Envelopes will be distributed by Kelleigh Larsson and Lucy Marr. On Friday, convention attendees can pick up their envelopes from 7 AM to 9 AM in the Ballroom Foyer.

Dining and Meals

Several convention events, including the board meeting, Federation Family Night, and banquet, will correspond with meals. Individual meal tickets and a plan including tickets to all 9 meals for a reduced price were made available through the online registration form and, if purchased, will be found in your registration envelope. Meal tickets should be placed at 12 o'clock above each diner’s place setting, braille side down. Only those with tickets will be served. Some of our divisions, and committees will be gathering for meetings with varying degrees of structure/formality during Breakfasts and Lunches during convention as well. 

Tickets allowing convention attendees to take advantage of an open bar for two hours each on Friday and Saturday evenings were also made available through the registration process. Attendees who chose to opt into the open bar will be given a wristband upon entering the Federation Family Night on Friday and the Banquet on Saturday. Attendees without wristbands will not be served at the bar.

The hotel has 2 restaurants. The Recovery Sports Grill is open Monday through Sunday, 11:30 AM to 9:45 PM. The Garden Grill and Bar is open Monday through Friday 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM, and 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM Saturday and Sunday.

Please note that the same Zoom link and dial-in information will be used for the majority of convention programming. That link and one-tap mobile information is listed below.

The following programs will use the link listed below: NYSCB Town Hall, CDTA Town Hall, Exhibitor Showcase, NFBNY Board Meeting, NYAGDU Seminar, Learning New Tricks Panel, Federation Family Night, General Session, Saturday Afternoon Consecutive Sessions, Resolutions Committee Meeting, Banquet, and NFBNY Business Meeting.

Join the Convention Zoom Room

One-Tap Mobile: +16469313860,,97240343423# US

Meeting ID: 972 4034 3423

Passcode: 904751

Thursday has traditionally been reserved as a travel day. This year there will be a late ticketed buffet dinner at 8:00 PM in The Garden Grill, for the convenience of those planning to arrive at the hotel by early evening. Manahil Jafri will be the Master of Ceremonies.

7:00 AM to 9:00 AM: Registration Envelope Pickup

7:30 AM to 8:30 AM: Ticketed Hot Plated Breakfast
Ferris Ballroom A

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM: Exhibit Hall
Ballroom Foyer

Please come and explore the products and services available from our valued exhibitors and sponsors.

9:00 AM to 10:20 AM: New York State Commission for the Blind Town Hall Meeting
Ferris Ballroom B

Julie Hovey, Associate Commissioner; Kelly Cartwright, Assistant Commissioner; Peter Herrig, Director of Field Operations; Louise Werner, Director - Business Enterprise Program; Ann Gallagher Sagaas, Regional Coordinator - Upstate; April Hicks, District Manager - Albany Region

This town hall style meeting provides a venue for NYSCB to share information about its programs and services for blind New Yorkers. Opportunities will also be available for members to ask questions and provide courteous, constructive feedback.

10:25 AM to 11:15 AM: CDTA/STAR Town Hall
Ferris Ballroom B

Staff from Capital District Transit Authority (CDTA) and Special Transit Available by Request (STAR)

This meeting provides an opportunity for all blind New Yorkers to come and learn about what makes the CDTA unique among transit authorities across NYS, providing a more broad and detailed perspective on the public and para transit options within our state. This will also afford blind residents of the Capital District a chance to provide respectful and constructive feedback to CDTA.

11:20 AM to 12:20 PM: Exhibit Hall Showcase
Ballroom Foyer

12:30 PM to 1:30 PM: National Federation of the Blind of New York State Board of Directors Meeting
Ferris Ballroom A

Aubrey Bird, President, NFBNY

Join the Board of Directors for a ticketed hot plated lunch and a chance to observe this open meeting.

2:00 PM to 4:00 PM: New York Association of Guide Dog Users Seminar
Ferris Ballroom B

Kelleigh Larsson, President, NYAGDU

The New York Association of Guide Dog Users invites you to join us for discussion, camaraderie, collaboration and more. There will be a presentation by Rivi Israel from Guiding Eyes for the Blind and a navigation demonstration by Amanda Martins.

4:15 PM to 5:15 PM: Learning New Tricks - Age is No Excuse
Ferris Ballroom B

Rasheta Bunting, 1st Vice-President, NFBNY; Brodie Enoch, Blind Law Student; Margo Downy, Buffalo Chapter Secretary; Luis Mendez, Blind Lawyer

Come benefit from the wisdom and boldness of a panel of older blind adults who have tried new things and made significant changes later in life.

6:00 pm to 9:00pm: Federation Family Night
Ferris Ballroom A

Valeria Jacobs, Master of Ceremonies

6:00 PM - Ticketed Hot Plated Dinner

Doors open to those with pre-purchased meal tickets ten minutes prior.

7:00 PM - Evening Social

Doors open to those wishing to attend only the after-dinner social event at 7pm. A ticketed open bar will be available from 7 PM to 9 PM. Consequently, no outside alcoholic beverages will be permitted at this event.

7:30 AM to 8:30 AM: Ticketed Hot Plated Breakfast
Ferris Ballroom A

This meal is open to all registrants who purchased tickets. One table will be designated for the use of blind students to gather to exchange ideas. Listen for Kelleigh Larsson and Noah Carver.

9:00 AM to 12:00 PM: General Session 1
Ferris Ballroom B

9:00 AM - Call to Order, Welcome, and General Announcements

Aubrey Bird, President, NFBNY

9:05 AM - Opening Ceremonies

Pledge of Allegiance
Chris Minkler, President, NFBNY Buffalo Chapter

National Anthem
Aleyda Santos, President, NFB of Puerto Rico

NFB Pledge
Noah Carver, President, NFBNY Empire Chapter

Invocation
Special Presentation

9:15 AM - Presidential Report

Aubrey Bird, President, NFBNY

9:35 AM - National Report

Jessica Beecham, President, NFB of Colorado

10:00 AM - Legislative Committee Report: Look How Far We’ve Come

Amanda Martins, Vice-President, NYAGDU

10:15 AM - NFB-NEWSLINE Report

Arthur Jacobs, NFB-NEWSLINE Outreach Coordinator

10:30 AM - Interesting Times: A Report from the Library

Chancey Fleet, Assistive Technology Coordinator, Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library

10:45 AM - Navigating Professional Spaces: A Panel Discussion

Moderator: Manahil Jafri, Treasurer, Empire Chapter
Panelists: Maura Kutnyak, Blind Lawyer; Kelleigh Larsson, CRC, President, NYAGDU; Valeria Jacobs, Blind Educator, Board Member, NOBE

11:05 AM - Fit Break with an Expert

Jessica Beecham, President, NFBCO

11:15 AM - Keep on Making those New Mistakes: Realizing Creative Vision

Aubrey Bird, President, NFBNY

11:30 AM - Trying New Travel Tools: NaviLens, Voice Vista Lizaria, and More

NaviLens: Manahil Jafri, Treasurer, Empire Chapter;
Voice Vista Lazaria: Zoey Marsh;
PiccyBot: Cayte Mendez, 2nd Vice-President, NFBNY

11:50 AM - Student Involvement Beyond NABS

Elizabeth Miner, Board Member, Central New Jersey Chapter, NFBNJ

12:00 PM - Announcements and Adjournment

12:30 PM to 1:30 PM: Ticketed Hot Plated Lunch
Ferris Ballroom A

This meal is open to all registrants who purchased tickets. One table will be designated for the use of members of the LGBTQIA+ community to gather to exchange ideas. Listen for Aubrey Bird and Zoe Marsh.

2:00 PM: Everyday Origami
Ferris Ballroom B

Come join us for hands-on activities centered on the intricacies of folding everyday objects, from napkins to neckties to flags and more.

2:00 PM: Express Your Diverse Layers Through Art
Ferris Ballroom A

Rasheta Bunting, 1st Vice-President, NFBNY

Come check out this creative opportunity, hosted by our DEI committee. There will be discussion, hands on art projects, and more.

3:00 PM: Getting and Staying Organized - A Roundtable Discussion
Ferris Ballroom B

Cayte Mendez, 2nd Vice-President, NFBNY

Join us as we share strategies that blind New Yorkers use to organize their homes, workspaces, and daily tasks to maximize independence. Contribute your suggestions in this moderated roundtable discussion open to all.

4:00 PM: Resolutions Committee Meeting
Ferris Ballroom B

Albert Elia, Committee Chair

This is an open meeting where members can observe the work of the resolutions committee as they develop and discuss resolutions for our organization’s policy agenda.

6:30 PM to 9:00 PM: Banquet
Ferris Ballroom A

Kelleigh Larsson, Master of Ceremonies

Join us for dinner, prizes, and a keynote address from our National Representative, Jessica Beecham. A ticketed open bar will be available from 6:30-8:30 - outside alcoholic beverages will not be permitted.

7:30 AM to 8:30 AM: Ticketed Hot Plated Breakfast
Ferris Ballroom A

This meal is open to all registrants who purchased tickets. One table will be designated for the use of the Empire Chapter board and interested potential members to gather to exchange ideas.

9:00 AM to 11:00 AM: General Session 2 - NFBNY Annual Business Meeting
Ferris Ballroom B

9:00 AM - Call to Order, Welcome, General Announcements, and Invocation

Aubrey Bird, President, NFBNY

9:10 AM - Resolutions Committee Report

Albert Elia, Resolutions Committee Chair

9:40 AM - Spotlight on Winning Strategies and Creative Innovations

9:50 AM Pledges and Contributions

10:15 AM Elections

11:00 AM Announcements and Adjournment

Tickets may be exchanged for box lunches after adjournment.